Courses for MA in Clinical Psychology with Emphasis in MFT with Latinx Communities

This survey course examines the historical and conceptual perspectives on psychopathology and the manner in which these perspectives interface with therapeutic strategies.

This course provides a survey of the field of behavioral principles and theories of learning and change. The relevance of historical and contemporary behavior approaches for the practice of counseling and psychotherapy with diverse populations is highlighted.

This course examines group formats for therapeutic change, personal development, interpersonal skills training, and relationship enhancement. An experiential laboratory group is included.

This course considers ethical standards for therapists and reviews legal issues that influence the professional practice of individual, couple, and family therapy. Application of legal and ethical principles to recovery oriented mental health care will be addressed. Prerequisites: Latina/o Emphasis Program: PSY 606 and 676.

This course investigates major approaches used in the identification, evaluation, and treatment of substance use disorders and co-occurring disorders. Individual, group, family, and recovery-oriented approaches are addressed. Prerequisites: Latina/o Emphasis Program: PSY 606, 674, and 676.

This course covers basic concepts in statistics, research design, and program evaluation for mental health professionals, including experimental and correlational design methods, levels of measurement, central tendency, dispersion, correlation, and the use of inferential statistics for hypothesis testing. Students are also introduced to methods of evaluating programs and clinical outcomes while considering systemic and sociocultural influences. Emphasis is given to helping students become knowledgeable consumers of research, including the use of research to inform evidence-based practice.

This course examines a wide range of brain-behavior relationships with specific emphasis on aspects of psychological development and clinical practice. The effects of childhood trauma; the effects of head injury; and the neurological aspects of disorders such as autism, schizophrenia, and depression are also discussed. Additionally, this course uses a biopsychosocial model to examine the history and use of psychopharmacology for treatment of mental disorders and includes the study of neurobiology and mechanisms of action of the major psychotropic drugs. The role of gender, culture, age, and other variables on the indication and use of medications is examined. Prerequisite: Latina/o Emphasis Program: PSY 674.

This course includes the study of physiological-psychological and socio-cultural, systemic variables associated with sexual identity, sexual behavior, and sexual disorders. Issues related to sexuality and intimacy in couple and family relationships are reviewed.

This course covers assessment, diagnosis, and intervention strategies for individuals, couples, and families according to the systemic application of psychodynamic, humanistic, communication, experiential, and integrative models. Sociocultural issues are addressed as they relate to the development of the field as well as assessment and intervention. Prerequisites: Latina/o Emphasis Program: PSY 606, 674, and 676.

This course continues the study of the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of individuals, couples, and families using interactional and brief models. Major theoretical approaches covered include strategic, structural, and cognitive-behavioral models as well as postmodern and recovery oriented approaches such as narrative and solution-focused therapy. 

This course is designed to explore the evolving professional and economic climate for mental health professionals. Opportunities for practice are examined, including private and group practice, the workplace, medical settings, mediation, managed care, and community mental health, together with preferred treatment modalities. Exercises designed to help students prepare for the licensing process are included. This course also addresses community involvement, engaging consumers of mental health services, and advocacy. Prerequisites: Latina/o Emphasis Program: PSY 639, 640, 677, and one semester of 663.

This course addresses common questions and concerns students have prior to beginning clinical work at their practicum sites. Students are taught how to prepare for beginning stages of therapy, how to effectively utilize consultation and supervision, how to deal with clients in crisis, advocacy practices, and other practical skills such as completing case notes and other forms of treatment documentation. Special attention is given to recovery oriented practices and intervention with diverse individuals, couples, families and communities, and those who experience severe mental illness. Students must register for PSY 661 one term before beginning Clinical Practicum (PSY 662 or 663). Prerequisites: Latina/o Emphasis Program: PSY 606, 623, 674, and 676.

This course focuses on professional development, self-as-the-therapist issues, consultation, and clinical case presentation skills. Students receive consultation from the instructor and feedback from other students on clinical cases from their field placement settings. Students formulate and present cases using a variety of psychotherapeutic models with attention to sociocultural and contextual issues and recovery-oriented principles. Students must register for PSY 662 for 2 units each term, over a period of at least three terms. Students must obtain a placement in an approved clinical setting, with a signed, written agreement, prior to the first class meeting. Clinical hours gained while enrolled in practicum count toward LMFT and LPCC license requirements. 

The purpose of this course is to provide students with an opportunity to integrate their knowledge of family systems theory gained in academic courses with its application in clinical practice. A prerequisite for this course is fluency in Spanish. Case presentations and case consultations will be conducted bilingually, with an emphasis on Spanish. Students are introduced to ethnically and linguistically responsive practices with Spanish speaking Latina/os. This course will address issues related to language and psychosocial variables in interviews and assessment of individual and social well-being. The course will provide opportunities to practice oral and written Spanish language needed for psychotherapy service delivery. This course also focuses on professional development, self-as-the-therapist issues, consultation, and clinical presentation skills. Students receive consultation from the instructor and feedback from other students on clinical cases from their field placement settings. Students must register for PSY 663 for 2 units each term, over a period of at least three terms. Students must obtain a placement in an approved clinical setting, with a signed, written agreement, prior to the first class meeting. Clinical hours gained while enrolled in practicum count toward LMFT and LPCC requirements. This course is limited to students enrolled in the MACLP Latina/o Emphasis (Evening Format) only. Prerequisites: Latina/o Emphasis Program: PSY 606, 623, 639, 661, 674, 676, and 678.

This course provides an overview of issues and therapeutic methods relevant to the treatment of children and adolescents. Issues distinguishing working with youth as opposed to adults are examined, along with relevant legal and ethical concerns, assessment strategies, major theoretical approaches to treating children and adolescents, and treatment strategies for common forms of childhood psychopathology. Emphasis is placed on using therapeutic methods with established efficacy and on incorporating parents, family, and other contextual factors into treatment. Prerequisite: Latina/o Emphasis Program: PSY 679

Students are introduced to foundational and science-informed principles in trauma psychology as they are contextualized by culture. Attention is directed to an examination of multicultural competence, trauma risk reduction, and trauma intervention. The course will survey interpersonal trauma (including child abuse and partner and spousal abuse) as well as natural disasters and medical trauma. This course satisfies the BBS requirement for coursework in spousal or partner abuse assessment, detection, and intervention. Prerequisite: Latina/o Emphasis Program: PSY 674.

This course prepares students to address the intersections of career, values, and life roles in the context of career counseling and responding to career and work-related issues for majority and marginalized groups. Students will gain core knowledge of major career development theories; examine the implications of sociocultural factors on career development, work transitions, and the career counseling process; gain experience with career counseling assessments and resources; and become familiar with current career development literature.

672: Students will learn Spanish vocabulary and conversational skills needed for working in mental health settings and to be involved in the communities where they live and work. The focus is on the proficiency required for reducing language and cultural barriers for Spanish-dominant populations. The course will be taught in English and Spanish. No fluency in Spanish is required. This course is limited to students enrolled in the MACLP Latina/o Emphasis (Evening Format) only.

672A: This is a continuation course for PSY 672. Students will continue to learn Spanish vocabulary and conversational skills needed for working in mental health settings and continue to be involved in the communities where they live and work, building on what they started in PSY 672. The focus is on the proficiency required for reducing language and cultural barriers for Spanish dominant populations. The course will be taught in English and Spanish. No fluency in Spanish is required. This course is limited to students enrolled in the MACLP Latina/o Emphasis (Evening Format) only. Students must take PSY 672 and 672A over a period of two terms. Students also have the option to enroll in this course internationally during the summer immersion program in a Latin American country. Prerequisite: Latina/o Emphasis Program: PSY 672.

673: Students will learn Spanish vocabulary and conversational skills needed for working in mental health settings. The focus is on the proficiency required for conducting psychotherapy and psychological assessments with a variety of Spanish-dominant populations and providing professional and community-based presentations in Spanish. The course will be taught in Spanish, and all assignments must be completed in Spanish. Conversational fluency in Spanish is required. This course is limited to students enrolled in the MACLP Latina/o Emphasis (Evening Format) only.

673A: This is a continuation course for PSY 673. Students will continue to learn Spanish vocabulary and Spanish therapeutic skills needed for working in mental health settings. The focus is on the proficiency required for conducting psychotherapy and psychological assessments with a variety of Spanish-dominant populations and providing professional and community-based presentations in Spanish. The course will be taught in Spanish, and all assignments must be completed in Spanish. Conversational fluency in Spanish is required. This course is limited to students enrolled in the MACLP Latina/o Emphasis (Evening Format) only. Students must take PSY 673 and 673A over a period of two terms. Students also have the option to enroll in this course internationally during the summer immersion program in a Latin American country. Prerequisite: Latina/o Emphasis Program: PSY 673.

This course is designed to build practical clinical skills in diagnosis, problem formulation, and crisis intervention in a culturally responsive manner with Latina/o individuals and families. In addition to the DSM, the course examines psychopathology from psychodynamic, behavioral, humanistic, multicultural, and psychosocial perspectives. Particular emphasis is placed on the examination of Latina/o communities within contextually congruent and strength-based perspectives. Students are also taught standard intake skills with Latina/o individuals and families and are introduced to psychopharmacology. This course is limited to students enrolled in the MACLP Latina/o Emphasis (Evening Format) only. Prerequisite: Latina/o Emphasis Program: PSY 657.

This course covers the fundamentals of psychological testing and examines the application of psychological instruments in the assessment of Latina/o individuals, couples, and families within the practice of marriage and family therapy. Particular attention is given to the interpretation of measures that have been developed for both non-Latina/o and Latina/o communities. Language and psychosocial issues will be discussed in the context of conducting culturally responsive interviews and assessments with Latina/o communities. The course will be conducted in both Spanish and English in order to provide students with opportunities to further develop their language skills. Students will integrate their Spanish language skills by practicing oral and written assessments, reports, and professional presentations. Students gain experience in the administration, scoring, and interpretation of selected tests. This course is limited to students enrolled in the MACLP Latina/o Emphasis (Evening Format) only. Prerequisite: Latina/o Emphasis Program: PSY 626.

Major theoretical approaches to personality are surveyed from a historical perspective and critiqued for their applicability with Latina/o individuals. Emphasis is placed upon contemporary clinical/counseling expressions of these approaches with Latinas/os and the operation of theoretical assumptions in clinical practice. A major focus of this course attends to the critical ways in which Latina/o cultures expand the understanding of how personality functioning may shift from one cultural context to another. This course is limited to students enrolled in the MACLP Latina/o Emphasis (Evening Format) only.

This course is designed to provide an understanding of Latina/o mental health. Areas addressed include culture, immigration and acculturation, ethnic self-identification, gender role socialization, influence of family and other systems, educational achievement, religion and spirituality, traditional healing practices, therapy and assessment, research considerations, and diversity within the Latina/o population. This course is limited to students enrolled in the MACLP Latina/o Emphasis (Evening Format) only.

Through an examination of the application of major techniques of counseling and psychotherapy, students learn how to interview, formulate clinical cases, develop treatment plans, and facilitate therapeutic processes consistent with each major theoretical approach and within the context of working with Latina/o individuals and families. Particular attention is given to the development of culturally congruent applied techniques that consider issues of class, ethnicity, ethnic identification, and environmental context. Students gain practical skills by means of clinical case material and supervised laboratory exercises that supplement classroom lectures. This course is limited to students enrolled in the MACLP Latina/o Emphasis (Evening Format) only. Prerequisites: Latina/o Emphasis Program: PSY 674 and 676.

This course will serve as a continuation of the biological, social, spiritual, and psychological development of individuals and families throughout the life span. The impacts of experiences such as childbirth, adolescence, marriage, divorce, and aging on individuals and families are explored. The focus will be on the experiences of Latina/o individuals and families and will include topics such as bilingual language development, the impact of immigration and acculturation, and racial/ethnic identity development. Additionally, focus on theory, research, and the application of individual and family developmental psychology within the context of culture will be discussed. This course is limited to students enrolled in the MACLP Latina/o Emphasis (Evening Format) only.